Boxing News of Monday, 25 October 2010

Source: GNA

One medal is disappointing - Bombers coach

Accra, Oct. 25, GNA - Head coach of the Ghana Amateur Boxing team, the Black Bombers, Roberto Chavez Ibanez has expressed disappointment over the performance of the team at the just ended Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

He said "To win only one medal at such a high profile competition is a great disappointment because we were far better than most of the countries in terms of quality."

Coach Chavez Ibanez told GNA Sports in Accra on Monday that the level of competition at the Commonwealth Games cannot be compared to Africa Boxing Championship where the team performed better than what was exhibited in India.

"Taking into consideration the level of competition and the participating countries at the Games, we could have done better by coming home with at least five medals." He stated.

Asked what caused the embarrassing performance of the team at the Games, he attributed it to the several problems that bedeviled the team's preparations before the commencement of the Games.

Coach Ibanez said the uncertainty that characterized Ghana's participation in the event affected their preparations because "at a point we were told we were not going so we had to reschedule our training programme".

According to the coach, the team had excelled in much tougher competitions in recent times and that it was only shameful that they could not deliver at the Games, citing the confusion at the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) as one of the factors.

Commenting on his future, the coach said he is awaiting on the decision of the governments of Ghana and Cuba to know his fate.

"I'm here on the agreements of the two governments, if there is an agreement for me to go back to Cuba, why not I will, but if the two governments ask me to stay on, I will do so," he indicated.